How to Plan

The 19th annual Rethinking Everything Conference is FOUR FULL DAYS of engrossing, stimulating, powerful and transformative exchanges beginning early Friday morning, September 3rd through Monday midnight, September 7th!

This is going to be a terrific event with hundreds of people, and dozens of speakers, sessions activities and topics to inspire and delight. In order to make the most of this experience, we have compiled some key facts and details to assist you in planning.

Registration

All attendees must register for the conference and/or the retreat, depending on when you plan to join us. Pricing info can be found on the conference details page. The dates for each are as follows:

Conference 8/30/14 – 9/2/14 Retreat 9/3/14 – 9/7/14

Please note: There is no charge for conference-goers to attend the retreat. “Retreat only” guests do have a $40 charge pp. Additionally, from Wednesday through Thursday RE will be hosting over a dozen different immersions that also involve additional cost(s): These sessions will be announced soon very soon.

Conference registration can be made in advance (online or by phone) or upon arrival at the event Registration and Help Desk. Payment can be made online via Palpal, upon arrival (cash, check or credit card – V, MC) or by mailing a check (with an accompanying registration form) in advance to:

Rethinking Everything

11165 5th Street East, Treasure Island, FL 33706

(813) 830-8676

Accommodations

The 4H Center offers conventional “hotel-type” rooms, RV sites and tent campsites. For more information on the accommodation type and a description click here. Please book your accomodations with RE directly, using the information above, as the 4H Center does not have a reservation system.

All rooms and camp/RV sites are available on a “first-come/first-serve” basis and must be paid in full to be reserved. We will put a “courtesy hold” on one room, or camp site, per family until April 15, 2014. After the 15th, unpaid rooms will be released to the group at large. Final room assignments will be made by RE based on party size and room layout so please let us know your preference.

Help Desk

Somebody from the RE team will be available to check you in, answer questions and help with logistics and general needs through the event. You will find the team at the Registration and Help Desk (see map below). RE staff will be available beginning noon on Friday, August 29th, and daily starting Saturday August 30, from 8am – 8pm.

Arrival

We recommend you check into the C.A. Vines 4H Center on Friday, August 29th. Our program begins on Saturday at 10am and you will not want to miss the start.

Transportation

Links to the bus and train station, airport and local shuttles can all be found here or you can read more about it on the FAQ page.

Food and Supplies

The 4H center only has a small gift shop with some snack food, soda and bottled water. They do not offer conventional groceries or supplies for your stay. Below is a short list of stores that are about 10 minutes away. There are many more stores and restaurants in that same general area:

Please allow yourself adequate time for tent and RV ‘set up’ and consider others in the case of late arrival. Please try to arrive before 10 pm and/or notify us if you are going to arrive later.

We will have fresh drinking water for tank fill ups and this should be done before 10 pm also for the safety, convenience and respect of all.

A “honey wagon” (drainage truck) is scheduled for three intervals through out your stay. Please try to come in empty and make plans to manage your holding tanks as necessary to work with the schedule. Letting us know your tank and drain needs in advance will help and getting on the schedule when you arrive is imperative.

Kid Village

Kid Village is a safe play space for all who wish to play there. This is where our youngest attendees aged 1 – 6 will be cared for, so we’ll require that all who play in Kid Village will defer to the wee ones and use all toys and materials accordingly. To be clear, this is not a place for “big kid” activities. We have LOTS of space for them elsewhere.

Kid Village starts at 10 am on Saturday and will be open through the conference from 10am to 6pm daily. KV will also be open for parents participating in Immersions from Wednesday through Saturday. Other kids activates will be in full swing as well but randomly scheduled. Please check the schedule for more info.

The Talk & Discussion Portion of the Program for details. (coming soon)

The Activity Portion of the Program, for full details on all the fun stuff. (coming soon)

Managing your pace

If you are like most folks who attend, you will be busy! Super-stimulated with some sleep loss is pretty common this weekend. To be clear however, this weekend will be just as you intend it. It’s just as easy to relax, get gobs or rest and nutritious food and friendship, as it is to choose the opposite path. You’re free to choose and create the weekend you desire, but please remember it is a full schedule!

Check out

Plan to check out of the 4H on Wednesday am, if you’re only joining us for the conference, or Sunday am if you are staying on for the extended retreat and immersions. All specially negotiated rates for food and lodging will be in affect through these dates. If more time is desired, contact us and RE will try and coordinate a longer stay for you and your tribe.

Extended stays

For families’ electing to stay for a few days afterwards, and fun, local excursions are also possible. We have some ideas for you below. The 4H has extended their low group rate for us for three days before and after the event.

On Sleep Deprivation

Many at the RE Conference so enjoy our time with kindred spirits through the weekend that we stay up all night, every night, getting very little sleep. Even parents are known to do this! It works for a day or two, but after 3 or 4 days of little sleep… let’s face it, we are human, and sleep deprivation is not a good thing. It’s considered torture in POW camps, and not good for freedom-lovers.

So… if you or your child/teen are ones who are inclined to get carried away and forget about their need for sleep, we encourage you to RETHINK this… and go to bed! Everyone benefits when you are rested and thinking clearly. You’ll probably have more fun too when you’re full of the vim and vigor that sleep affords.